Smyth began playing Gaelic football when he was four years old. [2] He first came to prominence as the goalkeeper for Down's Ulster Under-20 Championship winning team in 2020,scoring in every game of the campaign that ended at the All-Ireland semi-final stage. [3]
In 2021,Smyth was the goalkeeper on the Down winning team to lift the Ulster Under-20 title,their first since 2009. [4] [5] He was one of three players from Down who received honours in the EirGrid All-Ireland Under-20 football awards that year. [6]
In 2023,he made his debut on the Down county football team and was a Tailteann Cup runner-up with Down. [7] [8]
In January 2024,Smyth began training to play in the National Football League (NFL) via the National Football League's International Player Pathway Program. [9] He participated in the NFL Scouting Combine where he connected on 12 of 16 field goal attempts. [10] At his pro-day,he made 8 of 10 field goals,including one from 60 yards. [10] On 29 March 2024,he signed a three-year contract with the New Orleans Saints,becoming the first GAA player to sign an NFL contract. [11] [12] [13] Smyth had sent an email to the NFL in July 2019 asking for a tryout hoping to see if his Gaelic football skills could transfer to the NFL. [14] He was waived on 27 August,and re-signed to the practice squad. [15] [16]
Smyth signed a reserve/future contract with the Saints on 6 January 2025. [17] On 26 August,Smyth was waived by the Saints as part of final roster cuts [18] and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. [19] On 29 November,Smyth was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for the first time. [20] The next day,Smyth made his NFL debut against the Miami Dolphins,in which he made a 56-yard field goal and successfully converted an onside kick. [21] On 14 December,he made a 47-yard winning field goal with six seconds left to help the Saints to victory over the Carolina Panthers. [22] Smyth was signed to the active roster on December 19 on a three-year contract. [23] [24]
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